For years I have been photographing for the IDF, also in the training of the editorial command that simulates an earthquake. I always asked myself in those moments what happens in rescue operations after a real earthquake. And in one moment I got the answer.
I find myself in an entire city that has been destroyed, looking to pass the residents who just 24 hours ago lived their lives, lived in their houses - and suddenly they have nothing.
It's hard not to understand what those who lost their homes are thinking about - how they will become very refugees or murky and how they will move to live in a tent, when it's cold outside and when summer will soon return.
Among the ruins, the eyes stopped at the children's belongings - a doll, a pair of bicycles, a school bag - a childhood that ended in an instant.
And in another angle a pile of personal belongings - clothes and photos, an entire life in one bucket, an entire building, dozens of families, many people and each one his memories.
And next to the destroyed buildings, there are those that did not collapse, but the breaks and cracks of the building stones are physical evidence that they are unfit for habitation - even the person whose house it was, will no longer be able to return.
But there is one moment to take solace in, quite a few to be honest, the angels in blue and white - IDF men and the Salvation Army - who have become the last hope of the local residents, who watch them search for their loved ones.
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Among the multitude of photos you will see here I chose two to describe them and give them a place of honor.
The first picture is of the playground where the children of the neighborhood played just a few days ago, which has become a war zone.
The children's innocence was replaced by a cry of life.
The amusement facility that every child knows has become the only place where people sleep in the coming nights.
The small children have not yet been able to digest the dimensions of the event.
Photo: Oren Cohen,
The second photo is of a body left on a bench with one person next to it.
If there is a picture that can describe what happened in Turkey, it is this picture.
Two bags of different sizes with a small note where the details of the deceased are recorded.
Lots of people walked by and looked at the note.
Great fear was on their faces - had they finally located their relatives?
And if not - be happy and get a little hope.
One man sat down on the bench and did not get up.
Many tears fell from his eyes.
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
Photo: Oren Cohen,
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